Lubinsky believes in two remedies: Barriers or fences to prevent children from walking out the back door into the family pool unchecked. And constant – repeat, constant – adult supervision whenever a child swims.

“We have something called a 'pool watcher tag' that you hang around your neck,” he says. “Whoever’s got that, it’s their responsibility not to answer the phone, not to go inside, not to drink. They are there only to watch the kids.”

Lubinsky was one of three doctors who treated Camden at CHOC.

They took chest X-rays. Put him on a breathing machine. And anesthetized him for the night.

About midnight, a nurse saw Jamie Cockerill crying and hugged her.

“He’s going to be OK,” the nurse said.

But really, no one knew. Camden might never walk, or talk, or pick up a bug again.

•••

At 10 a.m. the next day, doctors took Camden off anesthesia and removed the breathing machine.

They asked him questions; made him touch his nose; kick his feet. He was groggy but everything worked. His body and brain were fine.

“When I saw that, I screamed and clapped so loud I scared the nurse,” says Cash. “I started bawling.”

So did Jamie, who jumped into bed with her son to hug him.

Now she wants others to know what she didn’t.

“So many parents – Cash and I included – assume that once your children can swim, they’re safe in the water,” Jamie says. “And they’re not.”

Jamie posted her story on Facebook. She sent copies to Camden’s preschool to hand out. She even set up a certified CPR class in her backyard for friends, family and neighbors.

As she discusses all this, Camden runs up in his favorite shark-patterned swimsuit and green goggles. He has no recollection of what happened.

Till now, Jamie has refused to let him back in the pool, giving his lungs – and her fears – time to recover.

But it’s time.

“Our new rule is, if our kids are in the water, we’re watching,” she says. “Even if it’s Aidan, who’s 15. They’re not allowed to go in the pool anymore without a water watcher.”

All eyes are on the boy who doctors said would’ve died if he’d remained under water another 30 seconds.

Without hesitation, he cannonballs into the water and swims down looking for bugs.

He pops up, then dives down again. Just Camden being Camden. So lucky to be alive.